Axle-lubricator



(No Model.) 7 W. H. DE KAY.

AXLE LUBRICATOR.

No. 279,355. Patented June 12,1883.

N. PETERS. FhQIo-LitM npMr, wasmn mn, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM H DE KAY, or PARKSVILLE, nEw YORK.

AXLE-LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 279,355, dated June 12, 1883.

7 Application filedApril 11,1883. (No model.)

To 60% whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ILDE KAY, of Parksville, in the county of Sullivan, and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axle-Lubricators; and I do hereby declare that the fol- I lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to .the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my box and oil-pan separated from each other. Fig. 2 is a like-view of the same combined. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section upon an axial line, and Fig. i is a perspective view of the rod employed for cleaning the oil-groove.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to enable vehicle-wheels to be easily and thoroughly oiled without requiring their removal from the axles; and to this end said invention con sists in combining with an axle-box'a lubricatingdevice, constructed substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawings, A represents an axle-box of any usual construction to adapt it to the style of wheel and axle-arm with which the same is to be used, upon one side of which is formed an enlargement, a, that extends from or near its outer end to its inner end, at which latter point said swell or enlargement has substantially a square form in cross-section. \Vithin the rear square portion of the enlargement a is formed a correspondinglyshaped cavity, a, which is open at its outer end, and from thence forward decreases in transverse dimensions to correspond to the dimensions of such portion of said enlargement, and from a point about one inch from said outer end connnum'cates with the axial opening a of said box by means of a connecting-slot, a Fitted within the rear end of the cavity a is a pan or drawer, B,'whieh has a bottom, 1), sides b, and end If, and when in position, as shown in Figs. 2 and'3, closely fills the end of said cavity and cuts off access to the same. Said drawer or pan has its said bottom upon the side adjacent to the axle-opening, and is held in place .by means of a spring-catch, b which is attached to said pan, and engages with the contiguous portion of said enlargement, or by any desired equivalent means. The box A thus constructed is secured within a wheel=hub in the usual manner, and when it is desired to oil the axle-arm the wheel is turned until the enlargement to is uppermost, the pan Bis unfastened and partially or entirely withdrawn, and oil or some other lubricant is placed within the latter, which is thence closed. The lubricant from the pan B finds its way to the interior of the box A' through the cavity a and slot of, where it performs its office in the usual manner; but in consequence of the form of the oil-containing space, and of the fact that when the latter is below the axle said lubricant runs into instead of out of said space, a comparatively long time elapses before all of said lubricant reaches the bearings, and less is wasted than when applied in the usual manner. Such economy in the use of the lubricant not only renders unnecessary such frequent attention to the wheel-bearings of a vehicle as is usually required, but also materially increases the durability and efficiency of the parts.

If desired, the pan B may be partly or wholly filled with absorbent packing, or such packing may be placed within the whole or any part of the lubricant cavity; but where the lubricant employed is thick, like lard, little or no occasion will arise for the use of pack ing. Should the cavity a. or the slot a become clogged by dirt, the same may be readily re 8 5 moved by the use of a rod, 0, which has sufficient length to pass the entire length of said openings, and at its end has a hook, c, that is adapted to engage with and remove any obstruction; but a fraction of the time usually 0 necessary is required for the oiling of the axles of a vehicle supplied with my apparatus, no jacks or other like lifting appliances are re quired, the wheels need notbe removed, and so comparatively cleanly is the work required 5 as to render the operation practicable at any time when the vehicle is at rest without danger of soiling the clothing.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and In testimony that I claim the foregoing I merits of my invention, what I claim as new have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of is- April, 1883.

The hereinbefore-described lubricating apa 5 paratns, consisting oftheboXA,proVidecl With WILLIAM H. DE KAY.

the enlargement a, cavity to, axial opening a and connecting-slot a, in combination with \Vitnesses: the pan B and locking-spring b", all constructed JOHN H. KILBOURN, and operating in the manner and for the pur- DAVID S. HILL. :0 pose substantially as specified. 

